Eduardo CAMAVINGA

On the 14th December 2018, the day after Stade Rennais had achieved the historic qualification for the last 32 of the Europa League, the club announced the signature of Eduardo Camavinga’s first professional contract. He had arrived at the club in 2013, and this highly-talented central midfielder became the youngest-ever professional in the history of Stade Rennais FC, aged just 16 years, 1 month and 4 days, taking the record from previous holder Georginio Rutter at 16 years, 3 months and 19 days. The Manager, Julien Stéphan, who had followed his development at the Academy, could be the one to give him his break at the highest level. Camavinga arrived as a baby in France, and had started playing football at AGL Fougères. After being an unused substitute on six occasions, he made his professional debut at Angers on 6th April 2019, and – in the process – became the youngest player in the history of the club to play for Rennes, aged just 16 years, 4 months. Having already shone on his professional debut, he extended his contract on 15th August 2019. After sparkling display against Paris Saint Germain at the start of the 2019/2020 season, he had a stellar season until COVID-19 brought things to a premature halt. On 8th September 2020, he even made his first appearance in the French national team under Didier Deschamps against Croatia - replacing Ngolo Kante as a second half-substitute in a 4-2 win for France - at the tender age of 17 years, 9 months and 28 days, and - in the process - Camavinga thus became the youngest player to represent France's senior side since before the First World War. On 7th October 2020, he went one better, scoring a magnificent debut goal with a spectacular overhead kick for France against Ukraine in a 7-1 victory, thus becoming the youngest goalscorer for the French senior side since 1914. After a disappointing season, and a never-ending speculation over his future during the transfer window in the Summer of 2021, entering the last year of his contract, Eduardo Camavinga was transferred to Real Madrid on 31st August 2021 for 31 Million Euros + Bonus.